A life-threatening allergy: Hypersensitivity to peanuts

Hypersensitivity to peanuts is observed increasingly frequently in allergological assessments, even in young infants. This growing prevalence, still incompletely understood, carries a certain risk, as cases of fatal anaphylactic shock have been described and longitudinal studies suggest that this allergy does not tend to disappear with time. The authors describe the nature of the allergen, the possible modalities of sensitization, the risks involved, particularly when the allergen is masked, and the recommended management once the diagnosis has been established.